The History of Skyscrapers I
By Mary Bellis
Englishmen, Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) invented first process for mass-producing steel
inexpensively, essential to the development of skyscrapers. An American, William Kelly, had
held a patent for "a system of air blowing the carbon out of pig iron" another method of
steel production. Bankruptcy forced Kelly to sell his patent to Henry Bessemer, who had
been working on a similar process for making steel. Bessemer patented "a decarbonization
process, utilizing a blast of air" in 1855. Modern steel is made using technology based on
Henry Bessemer's process.
Flatiron Building - Skyscaper
The "invention" of the skyscraper lies with George A. Fuller (1851-1900).
George Fuller worked on solving the problems of the "load bearing
capacities" of tall buildings. George Fuller built the Tacoma Building in
1889, the first structure ever built where the outside walls did not
carrying the weight of the building. Using Bessemer steel beams, Fuller
created steel cages that supported all the weight in tall buildings or
skyscrapers. The Flatiron Building was one of New York City's first
skyscrapers (Broadway and 23rd), built in 1902 by Fuller's building
company. Daniel H. Burnham was the chief architect.
Woolworth Building - Skyscaper
First Use of the Term Skyscraper
The term "skyscraper" was first used during the 1880s, shortly after the first 10 to 20 story
buildings were built in the United States. Combining several innovations: steel structure,
elevators, central heating, electrical plumbing pumps and the telephone, skyscrapers came to
dominate American skylines at the turn of the century. The world's tallest building when it
opened in 1913, architect Cass Gilbert's 793-foot Woolworth Building was considered a leading
example of tall building design.